Ranking Every HBO Miniseries From Worst To Best
2. Chernobyl
One of the TV sensations of 2019, this immaculate five part series took an amazingly detailed look at the 1986 disaster in Ukraine, the devastation of which still remains a matter of controversy and dispute for many parties.
It opens with the event itself - the explosion of the powerplant and its immediate, horrifying aftermath - and takes us through to the trial of supervisor Dyatlov (the late Paul Ritter, superb) a year later. In between we’re given an overview of the creeping horror post-meltdown - those who died quickly, those lingering in hospital, and the unimaginably brave efforts of those attempting to clear up and mitigate further damage.
The heart of the series is Jared Harris as Valery Legasov, a Russian Chemist brought onto the scene after the disaster. Harris is quiet and unassuming but with steely reserve and intelligence. A climactic courtroom scene gives the actor the chance to demonstrate just how captivating he can be.
For a show about nuclear disaster, it is in part surprisingly life affirming. There are deaths and suffering, negligence and self serving individuals, but then there are those coming together in a time of crisis, giving their all to help.